The City of Hämeenlinna and Häme University of Applied Sciences announced their joint plan to relocate the campus to Hämeenlinna city centre in early 2024. In June 2026, it was decided that the campus would be located in Hämeensaari.
The new city centre campus is planned for the plot of land where the Hämeenlinna bus station is currently located, on the other side of Paasikiventie. The potential investment would bring 2,000–5,000 students, teachers, researchers, and staff members to the city centre every day. The project is expected to generate significant direct and indirect vitality benefits for the city centre and the wider city.
The overall project and the related investment still require a great deal of preparation and decision-making. Construction could begin at the earliest in 2028.
A general plan for the area will be drawn up before the zoning amendment. The zoning amendment will address the objectives of both the city and Häme University of Applied Sciences, which will be refined as planning progresses. The zoning process for the campus project was initiated in the 2025 zoning review.
Stages of the project’s zoning process
Location decision, determination of plot value
Stormwater survey
Extensive traffic survey, contaminated land survey, reference design
Start of local detailed plan work
Draft plan reviewed by the committee
Plan proposal reviewed by the committee
Plan approved by the committee
Approval by the City Board
Approval by the City Council
Assessment of the vitality effects of the city centre campus
The study examines the effects of the Hämeenlinna city centre campus on the city’s vitality, attractiveness, retention capacity, and image.
The assessment is based on expert evaluation. It draws on previous studies, plans, and statistical data, as well as stakeholder interviews conducted during the work.
The study was prepared by FCG Rakennettu Ympäristö Oy, commissioned by the City of Hämeenlinna. The final report was completed on 13 March 2026.
What is the HAMK city centre campus project about?
HAMK and the City of Hämeenlinna are planning to relocate Häme University of Applied Sciences from Visamäki to the city centre.
The purpose of the city centre campus is to renew Hämeenlinna’s city centre, secure HAMK’s success, and build an entity that increases the vitality and attractiveness of the entire city.
At the same time, a vision will be drawn up for the future use of the properties and land that become available in the Visamäki area.
The city centre campus will set off a chain of positive development in Hämeenlinna’s city centre and bring the courage needed to develop a new kind of city centre life.
The cost estimate for the city centre campus project is approximately €60 million.
Why has this been undertaken?
The city centre campus has an impact extending beyond its own block: it renews the whole of Hämeenlinna’s city centre, serves as a driver for construction, and is an important part of solving the problem of the city centre’s decline.
The city centre campus could bring as many as 2,000–5,000 students, staff members, and visitors to Hämeenlinna’s city centre every day.
The city centre campus strengthens the availability of skilled labour and the development of expertise. Hämeenlinna is a city of education and higher learning. Historically and in the future.
We are developing the City of Hämeenlinna in a determined, bold, and distinctive way, so that the number of residents, businesses, students, and jobs grows.
Three out of four applicants to higher education consider the location of the institution and modern, learning-supportive facilities important or very important. (Source: Mantap Survey’s Universities and Higher Education Institutions survey, 2024)
According to the Universities and Higher Education Institutions survey, good opportunities for finding housing and the city’s other offerings are important factors in choosing a higher education institution. (Source: Mantap Survey’s Universities and Higher Education Institutions survey, 2024)
HAMK wants to be students’ first choice. In that case, location and a modern study environment are significant attraction factors.
The city centre campus increases the accessibility of the institution. It is easier to become attached to the city when the institution is located in the city centre. The city centre campus is a way to get both Finnish and international students to put down roots in Hämeenlinna.
What is happening and when?
Preliminary studies have begun, and the local detailed plan process is underway. Construction of the city centre campus could begin at the earliest in 2028.
What are the conditions for realizing the project?
In addition to financing solutions, the realization of the city centre campus depends on the future use of HAMK’s current premises. The project will not proceed if HAMK’s current facilities in Visamäki cannot be sold.
Experts from the City of Hämeenlinna and HAMK are analysing various options and will bring them into public discussion as the project progresses.
There are many vacant premises in Hämeenlinna’s city centre. Couldn’t HAMK make use of one of them?
Unfortunately not. HAMK specifically needs a new type of adaptable space that meets the demands of modern teaching and keeps pace with the times. Old-fashioned school or office buildings are not suitable for this.
Does the campus plan include new student housing?
Hämeenlinna needs more student housing. Currently, the challenge is that many students do not move to, and therefore do not settle in, Hämeenlinna, because suitable housing is not available.
The number of international students at HAMK in particular will grow in the coming years.
The current housing in Visamäki works well, but there is only so much of it: Visamäki has housing for approximately 300 students.
HAMK and the city must also make plans for building new housing in suitable locations – though not necessarily directly connected to the city centre campus.
When has the HAMK matter been discussed in Hämeenlinna’s City Council and City Board?
The City Board first discussed the project on 25 March 2024. At that time, it was decided to launch the planning as a strategic project and to draw up a letter of intent.
The letter of intent was approved by the City Board on 26 August 2024, and the matter was submitted to the City Council for information on 2 September 2024.
On 17 February 2025, the City Council decided to start the local detailed plan process in connection with the zoning review.
Why can’t the Visamäki area be developed instead of relocating the campus?
The city centre campus would bring much-needed life and vitality to Hämeenlinna’s city centre, meaning that relocating the campus would benefit not only HAMK but the whole city. It is also worth reading the answer to the question “Why has this been undertaken?” – it explains the reasoning behind the city centre campus.
Have current HAMK students been asked for their views on this? Staff? Prospective future students?
The topic has been discussed at internal staff events and has been well received. A potential new campus would no longer affect current students, but the views of future students have been surveyed. According to the survey, three out of four applicants to higher education consider the location of the institution and modern, learning-supportive facilities important or very important. (Source: Mantap Survey’s Universities and Higher Education Institutions survey, 2024)
How has traffic for the potential city centre campus been planned?
The effects of traffic have been studied in connection with the general zoning process. The volume of vehicle traffic at the city centre campus will be limited by the number of parking spaces. Preliminary plans include around 200 parking spaces for the city centre campus. The zoning of Hämeensaari has taken into account the growing traffic on Paasikiventie, ensuring sufficient space for emergency vehicles and other traffic. The effects of traffic will be assessed in more detail during the zoning process. Some additional measures are likely to be needed to improve the flow of vehicle traffic as well.
